Poll: do Chelsea and other Champions League drop-outs deserve to be handed a Europa League spot?

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas thinks it is "unfair" that his former club
Chelsea and the other teams who finished third in their Champions League
groups are handed a spot in the Europa League last 32.

Taking a tumble: Chelsea were knocked out of the Champions League but take up their place in the Europa LeaguePhoto: GETTY IMAGES

Chelsea were the first holders of the Champions League to fail to qualify for the knockout stages in the history of the competition when they finished outside the top two places in their group. However, Rafael Benitez's side and the other clubs who ended up third in their groups, will all have another shot at winning a trophy in Europe via the Europa League.

Villas-Boas, who watched his own Spurs side reach the knockout stages of the Europa League last night with victory over Panathinikos has long championed for a chance in the ruling to stop the 'drop-out' clubs joining the other clubs who have battled their way through the competition.

"I think it's extremely unfair," the Tottenham Hotspur manager said. "It would be much fairer if the clubs came into the Europa League when they are knocked out of the last 16 of the Champions League.

"You can't give a bonus to teams who have failed, and in the situation as it stands, teams fail in the Champions League and are promoted to the Europa League, which, in my opinion, is a massive bonus."